How to Get Married in Utah (2026)
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Utah · Last updated 2026-05-18
In Utah, a wedding is not just a personal milestone but a series of state-law steps with their own deadlines. On the timing side: There is no waiting period. Once issued, the license is good for: 32 days. The state's common-law-marriage rule: 30-1-4.5. This guide lays out the Utah-specific sequence and the documents and rules that govern it.
Key Considerations
Two structural Utah rules determine whether the marriage is legally complete: the common-law-recognition rule and the officiant rule. On common-law: 30-1-4.5. On officiants: 30-1-6. A ceremony that satisfies neither path is not a marriage in Utah.
Timing matters in Utah on two fronts. After the license is issued, the waiting-period rule may delay a lawful ceremony: There is no waiting period. Once the license is in hand, it does not last indefinitely: 32 days. Couples plan the ceremony date inside that bracket.
License fee and age eligibility are the two threshold Utah marriage questions. the issuing clerk sets the marriage-license fee under local-fee authority; figures vary across counties and should be confirmed with the specific office handling the application (consult the state code). If you are 16 or 17, you need signed consent from a parent or guardian. This must be given in-person to the county clerk. You will also need to apply for approval of the marriage in juvenile court. A couple that has not confirmed both before appearing at the clerk's office risks a delayed or denied application.
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Relevant Documents
A Utah marriage filing usually carries the marriage-license application, supporting identification documents, and any premarital-course completion certificate the couple intends to use for a fee or waiting-period reduction. $20. Applicants in Utah pay the marriage-license fee directly to the issuing office (county clerk, town clerk, or probate office, as the state's structure provides) when the application is submitted.
Beneficiary Designation Forms
Documents that specify who receives assets from retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and other financial accounts upon your death.
Durable Power of Attorney
Authorizes someone to make financial and legal decisions on your behalf if you become incapacitated, ensuring your affairs can be managed without court intervention.
Healthcare Power of Attorney
Designates someone to make medical decisions for you if you're unable to do so, ensuring your healthcare preferences are respected.
Prenuptial Agreement
A contract entered into before marriage that establishes rights to property and financial support in case of divorce or death. This document can protect pre-marital assets and outline financial responsibilities during marriage.
Updated Will
A legal document that specifies how your assets should be distributed after death. Marriage typically invalidates previous wills in many jurisdictions, making it important to create a new one that includes your spouse.
Relevant Laws
Utah Marriage License Requirements
In Utah, both parties must appear in person at a county clerk's office to apply for a marriage license. You'll need valid identification (driver's license, passport, or state ID), and the license fee varies by county (typically $30-$50). The marriage license is valid for 30 days after issuance.
Utah Marriage Age Requirements
In Utah, the minimum age to marry is 18. However, 16 and 17-year-olds may marry with parental/guardian consent. As of May 2019, marriages under age 16 are prohibited, which closed previous loopholes allowing younger marriages with judicial approval.
Utah Marriage Ceremony Requirements
Utah marriages may be solemnized by various officials including clergy, judges, county clerks, mayors, and Native American spiritual advisors. The state also allows anyone to become temporarily authorized to perform a specific marriage. The ceremony must include a declaration by both parties that they take each other as husband and wife.
Utah Name Change After Marriage
While not required, if you wish to change your name after marriage in Utah, you'll need your certified marriage certificate to update your Social Security card first, then your driver's license, passport, and other documents. There is no deadline for name changes after marriage.
Utah Covenant Marriage Option
Utah offers couples the option of a covenant marriage, which requires premarital counseling and makes divorce more difficult to obtain. This is a voluntary option that couples can choose when applying for their marriage license if they want additional legal commitment.
Regional Variances
Northern Utah
Salt Lake County requires couples to apply for a marriage license in person at the County Clerk's Office. Both parties must be present with valid photo ID. The marriage license fee is $50, and there is no waiting period. The license is valid for 30 days after issuance. Salt Lake County also offers a dedicated Marriage License Bureau with extended hours compared to some other counties.
Davis County requires both parties to appear in person at the Clerk/Auditor's office with valid government-issued photo ID. The marriage license fee is $50 (cash or credit card). There is no waiting period, and the license is valid for 30 days. Davis County does not require blood tests or premarital counseling.
Weber County requires couples to apply in person at the County Clerk's Office. The fee is $50, and both applicants must present valid photo ID. The license is valid for 30 days, and there is no waiting period. Weber County offers online pre-application to expedite the in-person process.
Central Utah
Utah County requires both parties to appear in person at the County Clerk's Office with valid photo ID. The marriage license fee is $50. Utah County is notable for offering an online pre-application system that can significantly reduce wait time at the office. The license is valid for 30 days, and there is no waiting period.
Wasatch County requires couples to apply in person at the County Clerk's Office. Both applicants must present valid government-issued photo ID. The fee is $50, and the license is valid for 30 days. Wasatch County has more limited office hours than larger counties, so checking their schedule in advance is recommended.
Southern Utah
Washington County requires both parties to appear in person at the County Clerk's Office with valid photo ID. The marriage license fee is $40, which is lower than many other Utah counties. The license is valid for 30 days after issuance. Washington County is a popular destination wedding location due to its proximity to Zion National Park and other scenic areas.
Iron County requires couples to apply in person at the County Clerk's Office. Both applicants must present valid government-issued photo ID. The fee is $30, which is among the lowest in Utah. The license is valid for 30 days, and there is no waiting period. Iron County is known for its efficient processing of marriage licenses.
Eastern Utah
Grand County requires both parties to apply in person at the County Clerk's Office with valid photo ID. The marriage license fee is $30. The license is valid for 30 days after issuance. Grand County is a popular wedding destination due to its proximity to Arches and Canyonlands National Parks, and the clerk's office is experienced in helping out-of-state couples navigate the process.
Uintah County requires couples to apply in person at the County Clerk's Office. Both applicants must present valid government-issued photo ID. The fee is $50, and the license is valid for 30 days. Uintah County has more limited office hours, so calling ahead is recommended.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
File the marriage-license application with the Utah issuing clerk (county clerk, town clerk, or probate office.
Before the ceremony days after startingthe issuing clerk sets the marriage-license fee under local-fee authority; figures vary across counties and should be confirmed with the specific office handling the application (consult the state code). Each applicant should bring valid photo identification and any prior-marriage termination documents the clerk requests.
Verify identification and any prior-marriage documents at the counter
Before the ceremony days after startingBoth applicants typically present current government photo ID; previously married applicants should bring a certified copy of the divorce decree, annulment order, or death certificate as proof the prior marriage has ended.
Consider completing a state-approved premarital preparation course if this state offers a discount or waiting-period.
Before the ceremony days after starting$20. The certificate of completion must be presented to the clerk at the time of application, not later.
Confirm the license validity window before locking the ceremony date
Before applying days after starting32 days. The license expires by operation of law at the end of the window; a ceremony performed after expiration is not lawful and the couple must reapply.
Plan the ceremony date around the statutory waiting period
Before the ceremony days after startingThere is no waiting period. A ceremony performed before the waiting period runs is voidable; the couple should confirm the earliest lawful date directly with the clerk.
Complete the ceremony with an officiant who falls inside the Utah authorized-officiant list
At the ceremony days after starting30-1-6. An out-of-state officiant performing the ceremony inside Utah should be confirmed against the Utah list, since reciprocity is not automatic.
Return the signed marriage license to the issuing office
After the ceremony days after startingThe officiant typically signs the license at the ceremony and returns it to the clerk within the statutory return window; the clerk then records the marriage and issues the certified marriage certificate.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| File the marriage-license application with the Utah issuing clerk (county clerk, town clerk, or probate office. | the issuing clerk sets the marriage-license fee under local-fee authority; figures vary across counties and should be confirmed with the specific office handling the application (consult the state code). Each applicant should bring valid photo identification and any prior-marriage termination documents the clerk requests. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Verify identification and any prior-marriage documents at the counter | Both applicants typically present current government photo ID; previously married applicants should bring a certified copy of the divorce decree, annulment order, or death certificate as proof the prior marriage has ended. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Consider completing a state-approved premarital preparation course if this state offers a discount or waiting-period. | $20. The certificate of completion must be presented to the clerk at the time of application, not later. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Confirm the license validity window before locking the ceremony date | 32 days. The license expires by operation of law at the end of the window; a ceremony performed after expiration is not lawful and the couple must reapply. | - | Before applying |
| Plan the ceremony date around the statutory waiting period | There is no waiting period. A ceremony performed before the waiting period runs is voidable; the couple should confirm the earliest lawful date directly with the clerk. | - | Before the ceremony |
| Complete the ceremony with an officiant who falls inside the Utah authorized-officiant list | 30-1-6. An out-of-state officiant performing the ceremony inside Utah should be confirmed against the Utah list, since reciprocity is not automatic. | - | At the ceremony |
| Return the signed marriage license to the issuing office | The officiant typically signs the license at the ceremony and returns it to the clerk within the statutory return window; the clerk then records the marriage and issues the certified marriage certificate. | - | After the ceremony |
Frequently Asked Questions
There is no waiting period. Plan the ceremony date in Utah against the earliest lawful day under this rule; a wedding that occurs before the period runs is voidable, and the couple would have to redo the ceremony after the period closes.
30-1-4.5. Couples who established a common-law marriage in a recognizing state and then moved to Utah should be aware that Utah courts generally honor a marriage that was validly formed elsewhere under choice-of-law principles, even when the state itself would not let the couple form one inside its borders today.
the issuing clerk sets the marriage-license fee under local-fee authority; figures vary across counties and should be confirmed with the specific office handling the application (consult the state code). Pricing is best confirmed against the issuing clerk's published fee schedule. In states with a premarital-course discount, the course-completion certificate is presented at the application appointment to claim the reduction.
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